ALBUM REVIEW: Holy Hell – Architects
If ARCHITECTS had called it a day when guitarist Tom Searle tragically lost his life to cancer in 2016, nobody would have been surprised. Similarly, there would not have been many ruffled feathers if they’d decided to take a few years off to recuperate before even attempting to reconvene and writing new material. Yet, here we are about to have a new ARCHITECTS album unleashed on the world, and to call it a staggering feat of both defiance and strength in the face of utmost adversity still seems like a massive understatement. With SYLOSIS frontman Josh Middleton now permanently in the fold as Tom’s replacement on guitar, Holy Hell arrives on Friday via Epitaph Records.
Many will give ARCHITECTS a free pass on this album given the circumstances and the critical acclaim that followed the sumptuous All Our Gods Have Abandoned Us, but that would be too easy; furthermore, the band wouldn’t want that in the slightest. Holy Hell is not just for themselves as part of their healing process, it’s also to honour a man who will go down in metal history as one of the finest and most underrated axemen of the 21st century. They will want their music heard, analysed, scrutinised and inspected to see if they’ve not only done their former member justice, but also if they can sustain the upwards trajectory they’ve been riding. On both counts, they’ve got even less than nothing to fear. If you only take one thing away from this article then it’s the following: Holy Hell is an absolute juggernaut, a triumph over tribulation from one of the best metal bands this country has ever produced.
Tom’s twin brother, and drummer, Dan Searle has naturally ensured his fallen sibling is imprinted across the album, that every unused lick from bygone demos is either present on Holy Hell or has been stored away for future use. In some places, like the mosh-inducing title track, it’s obvious, and comforting to hear the guitarist’s stamp from beyond the grave but there are subtler moments too, like the post-chorus riffing on the magnificent Mortal After All which serves as a little reminder of his presence. Tellingly though, Josh Middleton has been given the freedom to put his own spin on the sound already, the tech metal elements beginning to creep in and blend with the overall ARCHITECTS ethos, noticeably on third single Royal Beggars. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Tom pop up in the future either; as Sam Carter sings on the powerful and thought-provoking Modern Misery “I won’t go to the grave with a song still in me”, something that will have been taken very literally.
Understandably, the lyrics are packed with more emotion than ever before. It’s often the case that the words coming out of Sam’s mouth are the heaviest factor on songs, from Damnation’s cry of “If hope is a prison, then maybe this will set me free” to Dying To Heal’s honest depiction of the grief process with “Refusing to feel but dying to heal”. However, in a cathartic twist, ARCHITECTS have composed their choruses with their upcoming arena tour in mind; opening track Death Is Not Defeat is a truly gut-wrenching listen, but it will be sung to the high heavens in the new year, making for a dynamic that both uplifts and pulls at the heartstrings in equal measure, which will ensure an moving and spectacular sight in the upcoming months.
The same principle applies to second single Hereafter, which follows Death Is Not Defeat and makes a lot more sense in the body of work than as a standalone song, it’s soaring chorus and huge breakdown, complete with an obligatory “BLEH!” from Sam, less of a departure and more just an evolutionary step. The album also sees Doomsday, the first material released after Tom’s death make an appearance, retrospectively making it the lead single and, despite its ‘age’ when compared to the rest of the songs, it continues to stand tall and remains a colossal anthem in every respect. Special mention must also go to the 109-second long The Seventh Circle, which is a concentrated burst of pure anger and will incite pits at the first opportunity.
Everything ARCHITECTS have achieved up to now, from their desire to continue touring, their utterly superb show at a sold-out Alexandra Palace in February and their professional yet respectful attitude towards the last two years can be considered a series of victorious battles. Holy Hell has well and truly won them the war. Dan said that he didn’t want to release anything unless he and the band could be sure that his brother would be proud of it; right now, Tom has the biggest smile on his face possible.
Rating: 9/10
Holy Hell is set for release November 9th via Epitaph Records.
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